A new fund established at Horizon Community Foundation of Northern Kentucky will help support the purchase, training, equipment and ongoing care of K9s serving in law enforcement, public safety and the criminal justice system.
The “KY K9 Fund” was created to help ensure public safety K9 programs have the resources they need to serve their communities, from police and bomb-detection K9s to electronic device detection, search and rescue and courthouse facility K9 teams.
When county and municipal budgets tighten, K9 programs and their associated expenses can be vulnerable to funding cuts. The KY K9 fund will help provide resources for essential training, equipment and program maintenance, while also supporting retired K9s so the financial responsibility of their care does not fall entirely on their human partners.
“K9s are the unsung heroes of policing, and the KY K9 fund will make sure our community has the best furry, four-legged officers in Kentucky,” said Covington Police K9 Handler and KY K9 Advisory Board Member Michael V. Lusardi in a press release.
The need for sustainable K9 funding was highlighted following Kentucky’s legalization of medical marijuana. Because dogs trained to detect marijuana cannot distinguish between legally authorized and illegally possessed marijuana, law enforcement agencies faced challenges with existing K9 teams and their ability to support searches.
Kenton County Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Sanders responded by purchasing six new K9s for police departments using funds seized from drug dealers. With those funds now exhausted, the KY K9 Fund will help replenish resources to support K9 programs and provide funding for future needs.
“Public safety K9s play an invaluable role in protecting our communities, and they deserve the resources and care they need throughout their service and retirement,” said President and CEO of Horizon Community Foundation of Northern Kentucky Nancy Grayson. “The KY K9 fund is an opportunity for our community to come together to support these dedicated teams and help ensure they can continue doing their important work, regardless of budget constraints.”
For more information about the KY K9 Fund or how to contribute, click here.